Ep 17. The Affair

Blair wants to spend time with her new beau, but her demanding schedule is standing in the way. Her beau is a talented artist with a penchant for paints; they met at an art show where Blair had been exhibiting.

Initially, Blair is reticent about dating him; his artistic talent was not necessarily the most intriguing trait about him. But he was persistent, and she soon found herself drawn to his laid-back demeanor. They exchanged numbers, and for the past few weeks, they've been planning a date, which keeps getting postponed due to Blair's busy schedule.

One day, Nancy receives a mysterious call from a man with an extramarital affair; he believes his crush would be in attendance at Blair's gallery exhibition. Nancy is astounded by his unusual request and urges him to come clean with his wife and stop the adulterous affair.

Meanwhile, Blair's date turns out to be a perfect match, but Blair is anxious about the opening of her show. She often frets about the expectations of her family and friends regarding her artwork. As a result, she finds it challenging to detach herself from her art to embrace other aspects of her life.

Blair's date, however, is a breath of fresh air; he's the antidote to her work-obsessed self. He brings her flowers and good wishes for her show that evening. Blair is smitten by his grand gesture and finally manages to loosen up a bit.

After the show, Blair and her date head out for a drink at a nearby bar. They are interrupted by a man who identifies himself as the anonymous caller to Nancy. The man confesses to Blair's companion about his affair, and the two engage in a heated argument. Blair tries to intervene, but the man threatens to reveal their affair to Blair should her companion continue to meddle in his affairs.

Blair and her date are in shock; they never realized that the man they had met earlier was having an affair. Blair is upset, but her date consoles her and tells her that she has no part in the affair. She's a wonderful person, and he couldn't wait to see her again.

The episode ends with Blair and her companion heading back to the gallery to get her things. Blair is touched by the amount of love and support from her family and friends. She embraces her date and realizes that she's found someone who sees her beyond her artwork. Their connection is deeper, and Blair knows this is the start of something good.

In summary, the third season, seventeenth episode of The Facts of Life, titled The Affair, is a story about Blair's new love interest and how they handle a situation involving an extramarital affair that affects them. Blair is anxious about her upcoming art exhibition, but her date's presence ends up brightening her day. When the anonymous caller to Nancy confesses to an affair, Blair and her companion get caught up in it and come to realize they should not get tangled up in someone else's mess. The show is a tale about relationships and how communication and honesty are vital to every successful relationship. The episode resonates with fans by portraying these themes realistically without trivializing the consequences of cheating.